Acquitted of murder, city man still faces charges

Published 7:13 pm, Monday, May 12, 2014

BRIDGEPORT -- After two juries deadlocked, a third 12-member panel has found an alleged city gangster not guilty of murder in a drive-by slaying outside an East Main Street club three years ago.

The jury did, however, deadlock Monday on lesser charges against Michael Gregory of first-degree manslaughter with a firearm and first-degree assault. Superior Court Judge Maria Kahn immediately ordered that the case be prepared for retrial on the other charges.

Following the two previous trials, rival gang members filled the courtroom, later clashing in the street outside the Main Street courthouse. This time more than a dozen state police, local police and judicial marshals quickly moved the crowd outside and away.

Gregory, 24, of Bridgeport, is charged in the Jan. 22, 2011, shooting death of William Vargas. The 24-year-old Vargas killed outside Club Allure on East Main Street. According to police, Vargas was sitting in a car outside the club when shots were fired in his direction from a passing car. One of the shots hit Vargas in the head.

Police said witnesses later told them Gregory had been the shooter and that Edwin Rios, of Bridgeport, was driving the car. However, Rios testified during the first trial that he had left the club prior to the shooting and driven to his sister's house after dropping Gregory off on Bradley Street.